Report
This year’s report is a reflection of unforgettable highlights and many
thank yous.
In the new landscape of post quake Nepal, our partners have been
delivering support for vulnerable children rescued from illegal and
poorly run orphanages. We were all devastated by the earthquake. As
Nepal gets back on its feet, our work in child rescue and reintegration is
in high demand. It is essential that children remain connected to their
family away from traffickers and out of dangerous ‘pop up orphanages’
that are occurring across the country.
Here in Australia we fundraise continually for our projects to deliver
on our mission and key objectives where children are thriving, vibrant
and connected to family community and opportunity. Throughout
the year we have had many events created and run by our Forget Me
Not team and by our incredible Herd. From The Australian Body Art
Festival preparations in Eumundi Qld in July, every month saw generous
opportunities to help, come alive. We ran Feel Good Flicks movie
nights, FEASTS, Long Lunches and the list goes on. The events this year
have been across Qld and NSW spreading the message and bringing in
vital funds to make it all happen.
In May our Country Director Anju Pun arrived in Australia to speak
about child protection and the urgency in Nepal a year after the
Earthquakes and crippling strikes. Anju’s tour reached thousands of
Aussies through media and special events. To our attending guests who
shared their time with us learning how to help, my gratitude to those of
you that joined our cause via the Rescue Crew and for your generous
donations.
Our Rescue Crew members are the key to our work in Nepal. Their
monthly partnership ensures we are ready for action when it comes to
child rescue. As events happened through the year, the Rescue Crew
grew. When the Nepali government comes calling for us to assist in the
rescue and reunification to family, we can respond if we have the funds.
We are only limited by finances, unfortunately not by demand. Funds
and fundraising is our lifeblood. Without funds, we can’t respond.
The Cycle for Brighter Futures along the Kerala Coast in India, led
by Matt Brice was huge success and enjoyed by all who took on the
challenge. The cycle team raised over $30,000. Thanks very much to Matt
for taking charge of this special event that has been very popular and
will progress next year as a main event in the Forget Me Not fundraising
calendar.

01

Our projects have also benefitted from wonderful corporate
sponsorships. Boom Shankar has joined us in providing much
needed funds and support with the CHOOSE JOY tshirt campaign as
has Melbourne’s The Zen Den children’s pamper parties. These great
partnerships lighten the financial load through making Forget Me
Not their charity of choice. Thank you!
In Uganda aside from supporting our 53 children and youth with
education and care, we also built a Home for Life for a young family
struggling to stay together. This project is always well received with
a great outcome for a family in need. To date we have built 4 Homes
for Life and will strive deliver another in the New Year. Thanks to
our partner TCCC in Uganda and our team who work tirelessly for
good!
We have also begun our new venture with The Acts of Kindness
Collective in the UK. This connection funds our Change Agents
Program (CAP) in remote and rural Nepal. CAP delivers information
and practical help in combating child trafficking. With the pilot
program a great success, next year will see our CAP extended
reaching more than 13,000 families across districts identified as
vulnerable to trafficking. It’s a brilliant partnered initiative and one
that works up stream at the source of the issue whilst the frontline
work in child rescue happens. This partnership forms part our
multipronged approach in ending the need for orphanages in Nepal.
We ended the financial year in a reasonable financial state, but as
ever, the budget and fundraising year ahead is always our biggest
challenge. My thanks to every one who contributed to this mighty
work in large and small ways through the year!
Finally I’d like to thank some of the unsung heroes of FMN. The No 1
is without doubt Andrea Nave, our smart, compassionate CEO, who
has a love of children everywhere and a desire to see them all happy
and with family and a chance at a good life at her core.
Emmalene Travers, Ande’s assistant, long-time supporter and adviser
to us all. Em goes quietly about her work doing whatever she can to
help. Em works long after her hours stop. Without the contribution
“Emmalenes” make in the world charities simply wouldn’t survive.
Thanks Em!
Kate van Doore – Co-founder of FMN back in 2005. Kate is a world
recognised academic and much sought after speaker in the world of
child trafficking and profiteering through orphanage trafficking. Kate
continues in her Director role and acts as secretary of Forget Me Not.
Kate is generous and always available for her priceless advice in what
is a tricky area for us laymen to understand. It’s highly likely that Kate
will be at the forefront of major changes coming to laws in the area of
modern slavery and the way Australia engages with aid in the areas
of child protection. Exciting times ahead!
And of course, FMN Board and Think Tank and volunteer team Greg
and Robyn Biggs, Mel Manley, Pete Mackay and Michelle Hay, Wade
James, Trent Harvison, Mel Falkner, Jo Heath, Matt Brice Thank
you all for your interest, your energy and your care for others less
fortunate than we in Australia. I offer special thanks to Greg. Your
diligence and assistance with the budget and financials is vital when
every dollar counts. Let’s continue to have some fun with fundraising
into the next year as we go about the serious business of doing good
for kids.

Craig Manley
02

CEO Report
The work of our donors has proven that children thrive when
connect to their family, community and opportunity. Looking
back over the year, I am filled with pride. The projects and scope
of our work has delivered hope and change for more than 1600
children and their families. Assessing the impact of Forget Me
Not from a child’s perspective is what matters most as our major
performance indictors. It is from this aspect I measure our success.
In post earthquake Nepal, we found our work in high demand.
With pop up orphanages and the trend in child trafficking on the
increase, orphanage rescues and transitional care processes were
pushed to the limit. Armed with consistent funding from our
Rescue Crew, donors we were able to take in children who had
been subjected to unthinkable abuses and provide a safe haven for
them. The search for family bought about many successes with
tears of joy and relief for all involved.
My personal thanks to Director of our in country partner Mr
DB Lama and The Himalayan Innovative Society (THIS) with
particular thanks to reintegration officers Surendra Tamang and
Pawan Dhakal for their incredible commitment to children in the
face of danger and difficulty. Our reintegration officers searched
for weeks through landslides and aftershocks, deception and
threats. Their success in family tracing is testimony to bravery and
compassion. It is the incredible team members we work with that
reflect the heart of Forget Me Not here in Australia.

In May, Nepal Country Director Anju Pun visited Australia. Anju spoke
with our supporters and donors about the earthquake and its impact
not only on Forget Me Not, but also shared her personal account of
the tragedy that claimed so many lives. Anju’s ‘Still Standing’ tour
through Queensland brought supporters together to hear how their
financial contributions made an impact in the emergency. Many new
hearts joined the Rescue Crew providing greater capacity for us to
help children. The tour also gained media attention over the two weeks
bringing Forget Me Not’s vision for an orphanage free Nepal into the
minds and hearts of many Australians.
The children our donors support in Uganda have had a year of trouble
free schooling. With fees and school requirements covered, the children
have been able to get on with their job of learning. One of our senior
girls graduated her tailoring course and gained independence in the
work force. With her emancipation from an exploitative orphanage in
2011, Lydia’s future is now secure and on track. Lydia has emerged free
from the need for aid dependence and is self reliant.
The partnership with TCCC in Uganda supports the mandate of
deinstitutionalization. Together we work in a complex area to provide
better futures for the children we sustain with our donors’ loyal support.
Uganda Project Manager, Patrick Ruhweza and Melissa Faulkner work
tirelessly to answer the needs of the children and to encourage family
strengthening and growing responsibility amongst the Forget Me Not
beneficiaries.

03

In India projectHELP is gaining momentum with more than 800 children
now attending the Brighter Futures Study Centres. The Centres provide
and opportunity for early literacy and numeracy learning. The children
are like sponges and soak up the teaching. Attendance is high amongst the
children. Along with learning they are provided a small nutritious meal and
clean water. The complexity and fragility of the Kalyanpuri Slum in New
Delhi makes the innovation of projectHELP the exact flexible solution for
its residents. Partner Director Diptesh Singh and his team seek community
support and lobby local Government to help provide stability for these
residents.
Their lives are under the new Metro line where construction is set to take
place in the New Year. Working toward a new area and a solution to resettle
these vulnerable children and their families is the top priority for our team
as a current and significant challenge. The India ‘Cycle for Brighter Futures’
event this coming November will help protect children and families and
ensure education can continue and be a powerful key for unlocking better
opportunities.
Sadly in August our best efforts to save the life of 13-year-old student
Sanjana of Kalynapuri Slum were not to be. After providing her the best
possible medical care and round the clock volunteer support, Sanjana lost
her fight for life. Suffering with meningeal tuberculosis the Forget Me
Not family round the world pooled funds for her medical care. She was
comfortable and well cared in her final days. After providing for her family
and in her honour, the remaining funds began the ‘Remarkable Teachers
Fund’. The fund provides professional teachers a living wage to teach at the
Brighter Futures Study Centres.
With the year in review I am delighted that this work is delivering real
change for children and a way through life in practical terms. To our
bighearted donors and partners, your gifts of generosity are truly valued
and are what directly drives this work. You provide the opportunity
for brighter and sustainable futures for children across the world.
Congratulations on an incredible year!
Yours in service,
Namaste,

Andrea Nave
04

Uganda
Our children are thriving, vibrant and connected
to family, community and opportunity.

It is wonderful to see our children grow and thrive. In 2016, 8 years after the Nanna Project was born, five of the original children are now
living independently and contributing within their local communities. Another 21 continue to study at primary, secondary and vocational
levels. The children and young adults who board at school return to and remain connected to their communities during the school holidays.
We have seen a positive increase in child health and attribute this to personal hygiene and health support provided as well as a proactive
approach from families.

Prevention

The Nanna Project keeps families together by relieving elderly grandmothers from the financial burden of education. As many of our family
guardians do not have an income, children were not receiving a consistent education. In Uganda millions of children start each school term,
but when it comes time for fees to be paid, thousands of children have no choice but to return home. Inconsistent schooling has detrimental
effects on futures as well as social and emotional well being of the children excluded.
In 2016 we identified a link between day schoolers decreased attendance, educational engagement and achievement, and the risk of
displacement and trafficking particularly for young girls. We are now working towards a project model with agreement from families and
care givers that all children at risk will be offered the opportunity to enroll in boarding school. This will allow them to concentrate on their
studies and enjoy time with peers while protecting them during vulnerable teenage years.
Our resident social worker Ibrah and sign language/occupational therapist Hope visit the children, their families and schools to help with
communication and guidance. The purpose is to prevent issues from escalating and empowering families with the tools to self manage their
circumstances.

Mel Faulkner
Grandparents Zowena and Sowed cared for around ten grandchildren. The children were clothed and fed, conditions were tough
but the family were together. Zowena and Sowed had suffered the
loss of a number of their adult children and were doing whatever
they could for the grandchildren left behind. None of the children
were in school. Without intervention the children would have
been uneducated with an uncertain future ahead. Soon after we
met, Sowed passed away. Five of the children where given access
to education and the Nanna Project was born. Over the years
the children stayed in school and progressed in their education.
The general health of all family members improved. Today, eight
years on, the children are happier, healthier and educated. The
support the family received empowered Zowena to continue to
care for her grandchildren. Today they live together connected to
their local culture and language with the support of their sponsors
through the FMN Nanna Project.

Nelson first became known to FMN through his brother Zephania
who was living with an aunt and was sponsored through the
Nanna Project. Family tracing found that Zephania and his two
other brothers, Nelson and Elvis, and older sister Juliette, were
all orphaned. 15 year old Nelson was living in their family home
and had completed primary school. He was scared to leave the
home for fear that it would be taken over by members of the
community. We were able to reunite the three brothers, who now
all live in the family home. Nelson has now completed a motor
vehicle mechanics vocational program. In the last year we have
been monitoring his progress. Today Nelson is at home with his
brothers in their family home proudly independent and thriving!

05

India
2015/16 has been a year of achievement and challenges for FMN
India. The families of Kalyanpuri, Akshardham and Rajghat Slum
know they have access to a support network in times of crisis.
Recent action by the government in Akshardham and Rajghat
Slums and the inevitable eviction of the vulnerable family
communities in these areas are of great concern for us. With
focus and determination to find a workable solution for these
communities the support from FMN has never been more vital.
Education and stability to help to reverse the cycle of poverty
continues to be the strategy we work with. FMNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work is the
first glimmer of hope to provide a future that has haunted these
communities for over three generations.
Contamination of the Yamuna River has lead to the displacement
of the families in both Rajghat and Akshardham Slums after the
government destroyed farming land and demolished 950 homes
and three Study Centre locations in September. This was done
to prevent residents from farming in this area in the interests of
public safety.
Since that time a temporary Study Centre has been established
under a bridge in Rajghat Slum. To date, no solution has been
put in place by the government to assist. The families have
started rebuilding before winter hits, using sticks and tarpaulins
as temporary shelters. A clothing and blanket donation drive by
our partner team on the ground will assist with the most basic
requirements for human survival.
In addition to a housing crisis, familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s incomes have been
destroyed. They have farmed this land for over two hundred years.
Some are still earning a small income milking cows and buffalo,
but something else needs to replace the loss of edible crops in this
emergency.
projectHELP, which is divided into four main areas (health,
education, livelihood and possibility) has a primary objective to
empower and uplift these communities by directly involving the
families in addressing the most pressing issues they face on a daily
basis to determine and implement the most effective long term
solutions.
Key work areas to date include child protection and counselling,
medical care, the set up and ongoing management of Brighter
Futures Study Centres in three main locations, a hygiene/
sanitation program and raising awareness around the importance
of childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rights, particularly in relation to the long term
benefits of education.
Health remains a constant challenge, with acute malnourishment;
lack of hygiene and exposure to the elements the main cause of
illness and disease. Fever, dog bites and diarrhea are common
health issues with chicken guinea, dengue fever, tuberculosis and
malaria a constant threat.
After the loss of twelve year old Sanjana to meningial tuberculosis
in August 2015, two health tents were set up for checkups during
monsoon season with two doctors on call to take blood samples
and provide medical treatment. Those at most risk of contracting
TB or typhoid were immunised. Over 300 people in total were
treated over the three days.

06

Prevention

There was no loss of life during winter of 2015/16 due to the
provision of warm clothing by friends of LAF and 300 carpets
donated by a local businessman to prevent families sleeping on the
ground. Before projectHELP, around 30% of residents would fall
victim to the bitter winter nights.
Over the last two years, all babies have been delivered in local
government hospitals. 45 babies have been born this year.
Previously, the hospitals didn’t accept expectant mothers from
these slums, as they didn’t have identification cards. We have been
facilitating the application and processing of ID cards necessary
for admission into government hospitals and schools. Admission
and treatment fees are covered by the hospital, with FMN/LAF
covering the cost of medicine for the mothers who can’t afford it.
Further to our health and hygiene initiatives around 200 of the
older girls/mothers now receive sanitary pads, thanks to a friend
of LAF who donates around 70% of the items currently being
distributed.
Our Brighter Futures Study Centres continue to offer school
readiness programs involving basic numeracy and literacy (Hindi
and English), art and music from several temporary locations. To
date a total of 473 children in have passed the minimum testing
requirements and are now enrolled into the formal school system.
The school provides uniforms with the majority of black school
shoes and friends of LAF and employees from seven companies
around Delhi donate school bags. LAF Chairman, Diptesh Singh
continues to offer export consultancy services free of charge to his
former employer in a contra arrangement to provide stationery for
all of the children.

Local mafia remain the greatest threat to the children at this time with
reports of the brightest and most talented boys being approached to
work as debt collectors. The relationship between this criminal network
and children starts young. Girls are targeted for early marriage. There is
a high number of young abandoned mothers with no education, skills
or means of support. LAF offers solutions for these young women with
employment and training opportunities and education for their young
children.
LAF have been monitoring the situation and provide counsel to the
boys as needed. Educating the boys about the dangers of such work and
discussing alternative avenues of income is proving effective to date.
A fast track into a vocational training program is needed however to
ensure these children remain safe into the future. Working to keep girls
safe through educating parents of the long-term harms of child marriage
is key to breaking the cycle.
Encouraging the older children and their parents to own and nurture
their economic freedom, fight for their rights and lift themselves out of
poverty through income generating initiatives has always been a key part
of the projectHELP strategy. One of the brightest stars at the Brighter
Future Study Centre is Narendra - an intelligent, highly motivated boy
who rises to any challenge that comes his way. Narendra used to work in
a bike repair shop where he was making only thirty rupees (60 cents) for
twelve hours work. LAF helped him secure a juvenile work permit, the
necessary training and part-time employment in a take away café nearby
where he now works three hours a day, earns over three times as much.
Narendra is back attending classes at the BFSC with the aim of securing
school admission in the new year.
Other recent success stories include Chotu and his cousin Vinod. With
the help of LAF they received training and employment at the Taste in
a Box food outlet in Noida, while twenty-five year old Madan secured a
secure full-time job as a cleaner at Honda Motorbikes.

Advocacy
LAF work with two healthcare workers and key members of the local
council in advocating for children’s rights and improving the overall
health and security.
Sanjana is deeply missed by the families of Kalyanpuri Slum, LAF staff/
volunteers and all of us in the Forget Me Not family around the world
who were touched by her life. We continue to offer TB inoculations and
treatment to as many children as possible in her honour.
Cycle for Brighter Futures attracts extensive media coverage in
newspapers across Delhi, Kerala, Goa, and Varanasi, significantly raising
the profile and credibility of LAF within India as a result.
LAF has established a unique project management style, enrolling
volunteers within the community itself to be the eyes and ears for
projectHELP. Raju (25) in Kalyanpuri Slum, and Jivan (14) and Sunny
(14) in Raj Ghat Slum take great pride in their role, helping roll out
educational campaigns relating to birth control, malaria prevention and
malnutrition, and assisting LAF management with reporting.

Joanne Heath & Diptesh Singh

07

Nepal
Our children are thriving, vibrant and connected
to family, community and opportunity
In 2015 devastating earthquakes in Nepal killed more than
8,000 people and affected 2.8 million people including 1.1
million children. But it didn’t stop us from doing what we
believed in – the rescue, reunification and reintegration
of children trafficked into orphanages, home where
they belong. The aftermath of the earthquakes fueled
vulnerabilities among families, coerced into giving up their
children to traffickers for better schools and better lives in
Kathmandu where international funds were pouring in for
children.
During the urgency and immediate response phase,
Forget Me Not grew stronger mobilising its team and local
communities as advocates to stop child trafficking into the
orphanage industry.
In 2015/16, Forget Me Not assisted the Nepal Government
with urgent rescues from four poorly run, abusive,
exploitative orphanages in Kathmandu, Lalitpur and
Rupandehi districts. We freed 35 children barely surviving
trauma and abuse and deprived of proper care, food and
shelter.

08

Some of our original girls – Dikshya, Devaki, Ruma,
Namarata and Goma were trained as Change Agents
Change in their villages and communities, visiting schools,
social organisations and churches speaking about child
rights, child trafficking and family preservation. Devaki
has become a Montessori School Teacher in her village in
far-western Nepal. Sisters, Goma and Sarita have their own
small plot of land in their village in Dang district, bought
from the government’s conflict victim funds. Their uncle
helped them buy the small plot with the amount they
received. All opportunities that would not have happened
without incredible support from Australia.
Our real activists are our reunified FMN girls chasing their
dreams to make it big. Our FMN herd has grown bigger
from initial 20 girls to 73 children as of June 2016 with 85%
of them successfully reintegrated back to their families thriving, vibrant and connected!

09

Prevention
‘I was very much surprised when girls came to me
and shared with me about the abuse few of them have
been suffering from their own teacher. I immediately
told this Rija Didi and Kavita Didi which was later
communicated to Principal by Rija Didi. That was the
moment, I felt proud of being a Change Agent and
encouraging girls to speak up for their rights’
Diskhya
Change Agent, Kathmandu
‘I felt like a celebrity when all younger girls and boys
of the school came to me for my autograph after I
delivered an awareness session for their classes. I
realized then that creating change is really possible.’
Ruma
Change Agent, Kathmandu
‘I am super happy today that the early childhood
development training, I received while staying in Shakti
Ghar helped me get job of a kindergarten teacher in
my own home town in Kanchanpur district. Thank you
FMN. Today, I am a more confident woman and this
has increased by public speaking skills as well.’
Devaki
Change Agent, Kanchanpur
‘Change Agent? Sounds great! I do not know what
I have to do, but I am all ready to learn and deliver!
Thank you for selecting me as a Change Agent!’
Zafina
Dhading

FMN senior girls (Dikshya, Sita and Sangita) received free
scholarship in art and and dance classes in Sushila Arts Academy
(SAA), a renowned institute for arts. SAA is named in the memory
and spirit of Sushila Koirala, wife of Nepal’s first democratically
elected Prime Minister B.P. Koirala.
In January 2006, FMN and THIS in partnership with The Acts of
Kindness Collective launched the ‘Change Agents Program’ in the
remote hillside village of Jharlang in Dhading district. 45 children
were trafficked to Kathmandu post-earthquake but rescued by
Nepal police and repatriated.
Our Change Agents reached over 15,000 people living in
desperate poverty with awareness campaigns to save children from
trafficking and educating families about the harms of institutional
care that includes changed identities and attachment disorders and
mental health issues. 10 local people mobilised as Change Agents
in Jharlang village to protect village children from being trafficked
or displaced. 5 reunified FMN girls were trained as Change Agents
representing today’s youth fighting against child trafficking in their
communities to help end child trafficking.
Information and educational materials were developed including
a Nepali Year Calendar with information on child rights, child
abuse and harms of institutional care; brochures about the works
of THIS and Forget Me Not.
School bags with educational kits were distributed in remote
village of Jharlang to support impoverished families with
education for their children.
Based on the family need assessments, 26 reunified children were
provided with ongoing educational assistance. We have been able
to help 5 families to earn their living through investing in income
generating activities to improve livlihoods.
FMN has wisely invested in team building and training to
empower staff and build capacity. Team members were trained
in fundraising and income generation giving insights into newer
prospects of livelihood intervention for families in need.

‘I today realize that I did a mistake sending my
daughter to an orphanage’. I was informed about
the harms of institutional care from my son, Ranbir,
Change Agent in our village. I am representative
of Mothers group and we together try our best to
safeguard our children from trafficking.’
Mother of Ranbir
Local Change Agent in Jharlang village
‘People in villages still perceive orphanages as better
places for children to get better education than in
villages. They do not know about the harms and
trauma of institutional care, it’s a challenge and I will
keep talking about this issue in my village.’
Goma
Dang

09

Rescue
The Nepal Government shut down four
orphanages and 35 rescued children were
welcomed into ‘Shakti Ghar’, our short-term
transit home in Kathmandu.

03 August 2015: 13 children aged 7

to14 years were rescued from Mayadevi
Orphanage Helpless Child Protection Center,
Rupandehi. The orphanage was registered but
violated the rules of Standard of Operation
and Management of Child Care Homes
2012. All of the children, especially the
girls, were highly traumatised and abused
in the orphanage. Boys were restless for
several months after the rescue. Extra effort
with counselling was arranged for children,
clinical psychologists for therapeutic
treatment was also provided.

23 December 2015: 7 children aged 9

to 14 years were rescued from Eternal
Word Ministries Nepal, an unregistered
organisation in Kathmandu. Children were
brought into the children’s home right after
the earthquake from Sindhupalchowk, a
severely affected district by the massive
earthquake. The families were promised that
children would be well taken care of. This
was not the case.

8 May 2016: 7 children aged 7 to 16 years

were rescued by the Nepal Government from
Supporting Helpless Child Development
Organization, a child care home run by the
wife of a retired Army Officer and a member
of Armies’ Wife Association. Though the
organisation was registered for more than a
decade, the owner left the children uncared
for and the home unmanaged. Two boys
from this rescue are still residing in Shakti
Ghar, and in the process of reintegration.

24 June 2016: 8 young boys aged 7 to 13

years were rescued by the Nepal Government
from the Jerusalem Antioch Church. During
the raid, police found children being kept
as prisoners and treated as animals in cages.
Children were converted to Christians.
They were forced to travel to Kathmandu
from Dhankuta to run away from the local
Government chasing them. The children
were found to be very restless and extremely
traumatised. The Nepal Government arrested
the owner Government under Human
Transportation and Trafficking Act, 2048. She
is still in prison. The children were further
traumatised by this process and felt to blame
for her conviction.

10

Reunification
Despite challenging and risky tasks, our team
relives each moment during family tracing process
and rejoices every time when we find a family.
Our Reintegration Officers travelled to four new
districts, Rupandehi, Dolakha, Bhaktapur and
Sindhupalchowk to find families this year. 22
children were reunified in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur,
Sindhupalchowk, Rupandehi, Kapilavastu and
Rasuwa.
When Som and Sunil (Rupandehi rescue) were
returned with their father, he burst into tears as a
result of embarrassment and happiness at the same
time. He felt embarrassed for putting his own sons
into the orphanage and was happy to be reunited
after several years. That was a breathtaking
moment where even the team could not stop their
tears.
Father and relatives thought they lost young Sujan
from Sindhupalchowk and would never find him.
But when his uncle contacted us after learning
Sujan’s whereabouts, both were overwhelmed with
disbelief and pure joy. Sujan was reunified with his
paternal uncle with the consent of his father who
is abroad.
Ram from our Kathmandu rescue was assumed
an orphan when welcomed to Shakti Ghar but
the team had a strong feeling that he must have
someone somewhere in some corner of Nepal.
After a few months, Reintegration Officer Surendra
travelled to Chitwan with the feeling that he
would find Ram’s family there. After a long effort,
Ram’s maternal family was traced! Our field team
and Kathmandu office team danced with joy and
excitement.
This year we had children from our Rupandehi
rescue witness the togetherness of people
from different cultures and nations in reunion.
Many exciting shows and learning experiences
entertained the children during their transitional
care with FMN.
Our strong bond with original FMN child Alisha
bought us to her earthquake affected remote village
of Rasuwa. Their homes were collapsed and the
whole village was living under temporary shelters
yet still they were smiling.We provided financial
support to rebuild Alisha’s school building that
collapsed with the earthquake. Hundreds of
children have space to study properly in the school
now with your generous support.

Advocacy
Reunified children and their families are our local
advocates living in villages and fighting against child
trafficking. Amit stole our hearts by bravely reporting to
his School Principal about a male teacher of the school
abusing his female classmate too afraid to speak up. The
Principal appreciated his braveness and took immediate
actions to address the issue.
As part of advocacy and awareness with travelers, Forget
Me Not shared its journey of change through the Wisdom
Wednesday events in Thamel, Kathmandu. These events
are in partnership with Next Generation Nepal and open
to the public. Tourists have the opportunity to learn the
real harms of voluntourism with children.
The Social Welfare Council’s Mid-term Evaluation
Team acknowledged our work in their reporting. They
detailed the impact from our well-utilised funds reaching
maximum beneficiaries. Our team has closely worked
with District Child Welfare Boards in 21 districts during
family tracing and monitoring visits. Our team informs
government officials providing evidence based reports and
information bout how trafficking fuels the orphan trade.
Reunification of children with families in different
districts was reported in local newspapers and readers
were informed on the harms of trafficking.

Research
FMN Australia is a founding member of ReThink
Orphanages Australia and works together to prevent the
unnecessary institutionalisation of children shifting the
way Australia engages with aid and development. FMN’s
co-founder Kate Van Doore, an international children’s
rights lawyer and an academic at Griffith Law School
is doing academic research ‘exploring child trafficking
for the purpose of orphanages’. Her work provides the
first legal argument on the movement of the child from
the family to the orphanage and considers whether this
movement can be categorized as child trafficking under
international law.
Our team has shared this research and our own findings
in various forums including Child Protection Working
Group, individuals and community groups, Save the
Children Nepal and other leading NGOs in the area of
child protection.

Anju Pun

11

Highlights

Kate van Doore

My highlights for the year include presenting
FMNs work regarding orphanage trafficking at
the Human Trafficking Conference, University of
Nebraska, Lincoln in October 2015; at Columbia
University in October 2015; Vrije University,
Amsterdam in May 2016; and for Amnesty
International, Groningen, Netherlands in May
2016. Also, having FMN commit as a steering
member of ReThink Orphanages and meeting
with Senator Linda Reynolds and the Honourable
Alannah McTiernan MP to discuss orphanage
tourism and how FMN works against the
orphanage model.

Mel Manley

When trying to pinpoint highlights for the year it’s
hard to get past the recent trip where we visited the
projects in India and reunited with original FMN
girls in Nepal.
I’ve also learned that it doesn’t take a lot to create
hope in children and give them dignity especially
when they have so little and their voices are often
unheard by those meant to represent them. FMN
gives them hope, dignity and a voice! This is
especially evident in our projects in India.
In Nepal our girls are now using their own voices
and leading the charge to end child trafficking by
speaking at schools and in remote villages of their
own situations and experiences.
To see the girls, once small frightened children,
as Change Agents, now successful, educated and
confident reinforces that we are doing the right
thing. The tears that fall when I listen to them
speak are drops of joy for these girls and their
amazing futures.

12

Mel Faulkner

My highlights for the year include Nambi taking
over my role in Uganda. It was so wonderful to
hand the reigns over to a former sponsor child. It’s
fabulous for the other children to have someone
they know and trust supporting them through
their journey. I’m proud of Prossy volunteering
and learning at a nursery school via Small Steps
Foundation. SSF were thrilled to welcome and
support Prossy being a teaching assistant. It has
been amazing seeing Prossy mature and take on
responsibility and interacting with the children and
staff of SSF.

Greg & Robyn Biggs

Highlights for us this year include the dedication
and results that FMN continue to achieve in our 3
countries. In November we had the opportunity to
accompany Alisha to her village in Rasuwa, which
had been completely devastated by the earthquakes,
and meet her family. Words cannot describe the
impact this visit had on myself and Robyn.
We also headed to New Delhi for the first time to
witness projectHELP in action and kicked off the
Remarkable Teachers Fund. FMN supporters can be
proud of the work that Diptesh and the LAF team
deliver in India - a REMARKABLE year!

Joanne Heath

Spending some quality time the children and their
families in mid June was the highlight for me this
year. I was nearly brought to tears as several children
fanned the pages of their workbooks as if to prove
their progress and commitment to their studies. The
real hope that now shines in their eyes and moves
me beyond words. Such is the power of a shared
vision between beautiful people from two different
worlds.

Diptesh Singh

This year has been the busiest, most
challenging and most rewarding year
for us. We have seen our numbers
grow from 80 children attending our
Brighter Futures Study Centres to more
than 1460 children! We have enrolled
473 children into formal education.
We have expanded our geographical
reach to 2 new project locations:
Akashardham Yamuna River Bank and
Rajghat Yamuna River Bank. Proudly,
we were awarded Best Social Enterprise
Project of the Year winning a cash
prize of $2000USD which will support
projectHELP into the new year.

Notes:
1. Assets allocated to taxation pools such as STS or Low Value Pool are not included in this report.
2. Where a taxation pool is set up refer to the relevant pool schedule report for details of decline in value for the pool.
3. For disposed assets that have non-taxable use refer to Capital Gains Schedule report for any gain or loss resulting from a CGT K7 event.
4. The Opening W.D.V. includes second element of cost (additional expense) incurred in the current year. Hence, this amount may vary from the Closing W.D.V. from the previous year.
5. The Original Cost for Motor Vehicle assets shows an amount as adjusted by the cost limit.

TAXATION DEPRECIATION REPORT - DETAILED
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2016

55 469 493 449

Australian Association of Forget Me Not Children's Home Inc.

Page 5

2,396

992
252
1,152
1,225
2,396

Closing
W.D.V.

Forget Me Not Australia Limited

Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year ended 30 June 2016

NOTE 1: STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

a.

This is a special purpose financial report prepared for use by the committee and members of the
association. The committee have determined that the association is not a reporting entity.
The financial report has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the following Australian
Accounting Standards:
AASB 110:
AASB 1031:

Events after the Balance Sheet Date
Materiality

No other Accounting Standards, Australian Accounting interpretations or other authoritative
pronouncements of the Australian Accounting Standards Board have been applied.
The financial report is prepared on an accruals basis and is based on historic costs and does not take into
account changing money values or, except where specifically stated, current valuations of non-current
assets.
The following specific accounting policies, which are consistent with the previous period unless otherwise
stated, have been adopted in the preparation of this financial report:
b.

Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment are carried at cost, independent or committee valuation. All assets,
excluding freehold land and buildings, are depreciated over the useful lives to the association.

c.

Inventories
Inventories are measured at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Costs are assigned on a first-in
first-out basis and include direct materials, direct labour and an appropriate proportion of variable and fixed
overhead expenses.

19

Forget Me Not Australia Limited

Statement by Members of the Committee
The committee have determined that the association is not a reporting entity and that this special purpose financial
report should be prepared in accordance with the accounting policies outlined in Note 1 to the financial
statements.
The committee of the association declare that:
1.

the association keeps financial records in a way to properly record the association's income and
expenditure and dealings with its assets and liabilities;

2.

the financial statements and notes, present fairly the financial position of Forget Me Not Australia Limited as
at 30 June 2016 and its performance for the period ended on that date in accordance with the accounting
policies described in Note 1 to the financial statements; and

3.

in the committee's opinion there are reasonable grounds to believe that the association will be able to pay
its debts as and when they become due and payable.

This statement is made in accordance with a resolution of the Committee and is signed for and on behalf of the
Committee.

President Signature

President Name

Treasurer Signature

Treasurer Name

Date

20

Forget Me Not Australia Limited

Independent Audit Report
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF
Forget Me Not Australia Limited
Report on the financial report
We have audited the accompanying financial report, being a special purpose financial report, of Forget Me Not
Australia Limited which comprises the balance sheet as at 30 June 2016, and the income statement for the period
then ended, a summary of significant accounting policies, other explanatory notes and a statement by members of
the committee.
Committee's responsibility for the financial report
The committee of the association is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of the financial report and
have determined that the accounting policies described in Note 1 to the financial statements, which form part of
the financial report are appropriate to meet the financial reporting requirements of the association’s constitution
and are appropriate to meet the needs of the members. The committee's responsibilities also include establishing
and maintaining internal control relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of the financial report that is free
from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error; selecting and applying appropriate accounting policies;
and making accounting estimates that are reasonable in the circumstances.
Auditor's responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial report based on our audit. No opinion is expressed as
to whether the accounting policies used, as described in Note 1, are appropriate to meet the needs of the
members. We conducted our audit in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. These Auditing Standards
require that we comply with relevant ethical requirements relating to audit engagements and plan and perform the
audit to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial report is free from material misstatement.
An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the
financial report. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks
of material misstatement of the financial report, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments,
the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial report
in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing
an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. An audit also includes evaluating the
appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by the
committee, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial report. We believe that the audit evidence
we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.
Independence
In conducting our audit, we have complied with the independence requirements of the Australian professional
ethical pronouncements.
Auditor's opinion
I have sighted the association's financial records and the financial records show that the association keeps
financial records in a way to properly record the association's income and expenditure and dealings with its assets
and liabilities. In our opinion, the financial report presents fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of
Forget Me Not Australia Limited as of 30 June 2016 and of its financial performance for the period then ended in
accordance with the accounting policies described in Note 1 to the financial statements.

J. Hansen PNA FIPA
NIA IPA Member # 132956
01 December 2016

21

Dreaming
Kate van Doore

My dream is to see the process of displacement of children into orphanages
categorised as a form of child trafficking in international reports. This will add
such weight to FMNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mandate and provide new avenues of both prevention and
rehabilitation for children who are at risk or have been victims of the process.

Greg & Robyn Biggs

Dreaming of our Change Agents being recognised. For an opportunity for them
and the message to travel the world to speak at International meetings, sharing
their knowledge and making a real difference!

Diptesh Singh

My dreaming has gone to another level since I have visited Australia in Nov 2014
to attend Tangled Up in Green fundraising gala. My dream is to help the people
of Kalyanpuri Slum become employable. Empowering families and ensuring a
decent income as a result of their connection with us.

Emmalene Travers

My dream is for all children, especially those not living with their families
through no fault of their own, feel loved and cared for, that they belong, and that
they are entitled to make their dreams BIG and chase them wholeheartedly.

22

I dream of a world where children are not disregarded.
Where they are valued, understood and treasured as the potential of humanity.
We can all contribute to this future.
Andrea Nave

23

Forget Me Not Australia Ltd
Charity Number CH1521
Australian Company Number 610 061 679
Australian Business Number 55 469 493 449